viii Preface
by members of the dominant culture, and because their reading scores, on
average, fail to rise above a fourth-grade level for high school graduates.
Multiple examples of populations and contexts are used throughout ••
the text. These sample studies illustrate the breadth of applicability of a
transformative approach to research and evaluation, as well as what makes
aspects of such work reflective of a transformative stance.
Scholarly literature, including sample studies as well as theoretical ••
and methodological pieces, is cited as a major source of insight into trans-
formative research and evaluation.
Throughout my years at Gallaudet University, I have been privileged ••
to teach very bright and insightful graduate students. As part of my teach-
ing, I use BlackBoard, an electronic, web-based teaching tool that allows
for class discussions to occur online. With their permission, I include my
students’ perspectives when they are applicable to the points being made.
“Questions for Thought”: Because the transformative paradigm is ••
not a cookbook approach to research and evaluation, it functions in many
ways to raise questions for the inquirer and community members to con-
sider. In various places in the text, I insert questions to stimulate thinking
and discussion.
Summaries are provided at the end of each chapter.••
Acknowledgments
Many people contributed to my ability to complete this book, including my
family, my students and colleagues at Gallaudet University (especially Amy
Wilson, Heidi Holmes, Raychelle Harris, and Glenda Mobley), and my
professional family across the globe (especially Bagele Chilisa, Zenda Ofir,
and Barbara Rosenstein). At The Guilford Press, my thanks go to C. Debo-
rah Laughton, Publisher, Research Methods and Statistics, for her sup-
port, encouragement, and belief in this project, and Anna Nelson, Senior
Production Editor, for her thoroughness and care throughout the produc-
tion process. I also thank the reviewers of earlier drafts: Katrina Bled-
soe, Research Manager, Walter R. McDonald and Associates, Arlington,
Virginia; Melvin E. Hall, Educational Psychology, College of Education,
Northern Arizona University; Gary W. Harper, Department of Psychology
and Master of Public Health Program, DePaul University; and Debra M.
Harris, Educational Leadership, California State University, Fresno.